Hydro-formed T-fitting

摘要

A punch for forming opposite ends of a copper tube into a T includes a tapered or shovel-nose such that the spacing between the ends of the opposed punches is reduced, thereby reducing the excess copper remaining in the T once formed. A method of forming the fitting employs the shovel-nose punches in a hydro-forming process to accommodate such results.

主权项

1. A copper T-fitting comprising:
a first leg and a second leg extending orthogonally from said first leg and wherein said fitting is made using hydro-forming with a shovel-nose punch shaped to reduce the amount of copper in the area of said first leg adjacent to and on opposite sides of the axis of intersection of said second leg with said first leg, wherein said punch has a generally cylindrical body having a central aperture for supplying high pressure fluid to a copper pipe, wherein said tapered punch has a cylindrical passageway terminating in an end having a tapered and concavely curved lip extending outwardly from said body, said punch including a tapered top on a side of said cylindrical passageway opposite said concavely curved lip; and a conical transition zone extending between said concavely curved lip and said tapered top.